14-08-2012Monarch, the leading scheduled leisure airline is to launch flights to Gibraltar as part of the carrier’s expansion of its Birmingham network of routes for summer 2013.

Offering three flights a week from the West Midlands airport, the service will start on 23 March 2013, with tickets now on sale.

The flight from Birmingham will depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 6.35am, arriving in Gibraltar at 10.30am. The return flight will depart Gibraltar at 11.15am, arriving in Birmingham at 1.10pm.

“We are delighted to be introducing what we are sure will be a popular route,” Kevin George, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines said. “We have carried out a lot of research to understand the routes our customers want and we are confident that a service from Birmingham to Gibraltar will meet their demands.”

Commenting on the developments Gibraltar Government Minister of Tourism, Public Transport and the Port, The Hon. Neil Costa, said ’We are delighted that Monarch Airlines has decided to provide a service from the Midlands to Gibraltar and that their decision will bring great commercial opportunity all round.

Monarch has also introduced new routes from Birmingham to both Barcelona and Nice this year and expanded the frequency of flights to Malaga, Majorca, Alicante, Faro, Rome, Dalaman, Ibiza and Tenerife.

13-11-2012Leading scheduled leisure airline, Monarch, has today announced a new route to Malta for summer 2013 from its newest base, East Midlands.

Expanding on its network of scheduled destinations from East Midlands, which started in August of this year, the new flights to Malta offer customers another choice of summer sun destination. Flights will operate twice a week starting on 7 May and go on sale on Friday 16 November.

Commenting on the new route, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines, Kevin George said, “We are delighted to be expanding our summer 2013 flights programme from East Midlands Airport with this brand new route for the airline which provides our customers with even more flexibility and choice. Malta is a completely new scheduled destination for Monarch and we are sure that it will be a popular choice for our customers in the Midlands.”

Markus Klaushofer, Malta Airport’s Chief Executive Officer commented, “It is with great pleasure that we welcome Monarch’s new flight from East Midlands to our beautiful islands. It is indeed of great satisfaction for us to add another airline operating to the UK, our largest market. I am sure that Monarch‘s passengers will find Malta attractive and we look forward to a fruitful relationship with the airline to ensure a long-term success in their operation to and from these islands.”

Josef Formosa Gauci, Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) CEO, welcomed Monarch's first scheduled service to Malta thereby widening the Mediterranean islands’ access to and from the UK. He commented, “As soon as MTA received indications that there was going to be a gap in the market at East Midlands it collaborated with Malta Airport to find an alternative operator from this route. MTA is sure that Monarch will find this to be another successful operation.”

20 Nov 2012The aircraft maintenance division of the Monarch travel group has announced plans to build a new facility at Birmingham Airport, creating up to 300 jobs.

Monarch Aircraft Engineering Ltd (MAEL) said the new 110,000sq ft hangar would initially create 150 jobs, with the potential to create a further 150.

Scheduled to become operational by the end of next year, the maintenance centre will carry out work on Monarch Airlines’ aircraft and those of other carriers.

MAEL, a division of Monarch Group, said the repair hub would complement its existing heavy maintenance facilities in the UK at London Luton and Manchester airports.

Commenting on the expansion plans, Birmingham Airport’s chief executive Paul Kehoe said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as the airport for Monarch Group’s UK engineering expansion, following the growth of its flight operation in Birmingham this year.”

“The decision to create this state-of-the-art facility in the West Midlands demonstrates Monarch’s long-term commitment to the region, creating job opportunities for skilled engineers and young people looking to start a career in aircraft maintenance.”

Caroline Spelman, MP for Meriden, which includes Birmingham Airport, said: “The creation of 300 jobs through this facility and the opportunities for apprentices is a vote of confidence in the airport and the great heritage in engineering our area has.”

MAEL expects the hangar, which will have the capacity to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350, to boost its share of the global market for outsourced airframe maintenance and repair.

MAEL managing director Mick Adams said: “Our new hangar at Birmingham Airport, combined with our existing facilities at London Luton and Manchester, and large line maintenance operation at London Gatwick, will ensure that MAEL is uniquely positioned to provide its international and domestic customers with a high-quality and leading maintenance and repair service.”

“We look forward next year to welcoming 150 talented people, with the potential for a further 150, to our new facility at Birmingham Airport, where they will complement our expertise across existing locations and join in our exciting plans for further growth.”

Iain Rawlinson, executive chairman of Monarch Group, said: “Monarch Aircraft Engineering is at the forefront of aviation maintenance technology, and the Monarch Group’s investment in a new facility at Birmingham Airport is a signal of our intent to drive the further growth of this strategically-important division of the group.”

04-12-2012Leading scheduled leisure airline, Monarch, has today announced the reintroduction of their flight to Almeria in southern Spain for summer 2013 from Manchester.

Expanding on its network of scheduled destinations from Manchester, the route offers customers another choice of summer sun destination. Flights will operate twice a week starting on 4 May 2013 and went on sale on Friday 16 November 2012.

Managing Director of Monarch Airlines, Kevin George, commented: “We are delighted to be resuming the Almeria route for our summer 2013 flights programme from Manchester Airport. Since we last operated the route in 2011 the popularity of our Birmingham/Almeria flight has grown considerably and therefore we thought it timely to bring the route back to Manchester.”

“Our social media followers will be particularly pleased by the resumption of the flight as it has been the topic of discussion and debate for some time on both Facebook and Twitter and we are always very pleased to be able to respond positively to customer feedback. The addition of Almeria for summer 2013 expands further our extensive offering from Manchester and we are sure that it will be a popular choice for our customers.”

Ken O’Toole, Chief Commercial Officer for MAG (Manchester Airports Group), said: “Monarch Airlines is a major carrier here and the re-instatement of the Almeria route will be a welcome addition to the summer 2013 schedule from Manchester. Spain remains a popular destination for leisure travellers using our airport and Monarch’s continued growth is something we will continue to support in the year ahead.”

04 03 2013Leading scheduled leisure airline, Monarch, has announced that it is to increase the frequency of its Barcelona service from Birmingham airport from four times a week to daily, from 1 May 2013.

14 03 2013Leading scheduled leisure airline, Monarch has today taken delivery of a new Airbus A320 aircraft. The aircraft forms part of the airline’s expansion programme which will see the fleet grow in size from 32 aircraft in 2012, to 38 during this financial year to October 2013.

The new aircraft will be based at Leeds Bradford airport where Monarch is about to start its first full summer programme of flying to twelve new destinations. A second similar A320, to be delivered in April, will also be based at Leeds Bradford.

Monarch becomes the first UK airline to operate aircraft fitted with Airbus Sharklets. These enhancements to the wingtip save fuel, increase performance, lower carbon emissions and improve payload by up to 450kg. The Sharklets cut down on aerodynamic drag by helping to reduce the spiral shaped vortices that are formed at the wingtips of any aircraft during flight.

“We are delighted to be taking delivery of our first new aircraft for a number of years,” Kevin George, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines said. “Basing the new aircraft at Leeds Bradford demonstrates further commitment to the airline’s expansion in the north and coincides with the launch of twelve new routes out of the Yorkshire airport, giving greater choice to our new customers in the area. We are also pleased to be using the new Sharklet technology, which will be both more environmentally friendly and more economic as we embrace the benefits of new aircraft design.”

In November 2012, Monarch announced plans for the re-equipping of its aircraft fleet from 2015 onwards.This re-equipping programme envisages an order for a total of over 45 replacement and expansion aircraft for delivery up to 2021. Invitations have been issued to the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers to submit proposals for supplying these aircraft to Monarch Airlines through an acquisition strategy which will consider both leasing and purchasing of aircraft. This process will also embrace the new, more fuel efficient technology being introduced by the major manufacturers from 2018 onwards as part of Monarch Airlines’ ongoing drive to operate as efficiently and competitively as possible.

To fulfil its immediate expansion requirements in its existing Airbus fleet before 2015, Monarch Airlines is taking delivery of these first two new Airbus A320 aircraft, to be followed in May 2013 by two new A321 aircraft.

12-Jun-2013Monarch Airlines Ltd. plans to order as many as 62 single-aisle jetliners by the end of September as the U.K. charter carrier seeks to transform itself into a discount operator along the lines of EasyJet Plc. (EZJ)

Monarch is considering both existing and upgraded versions of Airbus SAS and Boeing Co. short-haul models, plus the new CSeries jet from Bombardier Inc., as it mulls fleet renewal and expansion requirements, Finance Director Robert Palmer said.

“We’ve got a lot of options and we’re going to narrow those down over the next couple months before getting to the final bid stage,” Palmer said in an interview. “We have a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a real decision against whatever is in the marketplace without preference.”

Monarch currently operates a short-haul fleet consisting mainly of Airbus A320 and A321 planes and is looking at the same variants for the pending order, potentially in the re-engined Neo version, Palmer said. It’s also evaluating the corresponding Boeing 737-800 and -900, including the upgraded Max model.

Bombardier (BBD/B)’s CSeries offers “amazing” seat costs and could be attractive in a 150-to-160-passenger layout, in which case Monarch would probably opt for a mixed order from the Canadian company and either Airbus or Boeing, Palmer said. The aircraft would be delivered through 2024, according to a statement.

Luton, England-based Monarch has taken delivery of two A320s this year to fulfill short-term needs and will boost its fleet to 39 planes by the end of 2013. Eight aircraft are due to be retired over the next two years, including Boeing 757s.

A handful of Airbus A330 planes will continue to meet the company’s limited wide-body requirements for the foreseeable future, Palmer said.

04-10-2013Monarch, the leading scheduled leisure airline, has announced an expansion of its route network for summer 2014. A number of new destinations will operate for the first time, while some existing destinations will be served from more airports.

The established Birmingham to Nice route will be complemented by a five-times-a-week service (Thursday through to Monday) to the French Riviera from London Gatwick Airport.

A brand new destination, Enfidha in Tunisia, located midway between Tunis and Monastir, will operate twice a week (Wednesday and Sunday) from both Manchester and London Gatwick airports.

Agadir, which enjoys a year round warm climate, becomes Monarch Airline’s first Moroccan destination. With twice weekly flights from Manchester (Tuesday and Saturday) and London Gatwick (Tuesday and Friday.)

Monarch Airlines will operate a twice weekly service to Hurghada (Tuesday and Friday) from Birmingham, London Gatwick and Manchester airports from 2nd May 2014. Hurghada is almost unrecognisable from its past life and has grown to become the most visited tourist destination in Egypt, with more than 100 hotels and superb diving opportunities.

The historic sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum will be accessible from Naples, located south of Rome. Naples also serves the beautiful Italian resorts of Sorrento and the Isle of Capri. Naples flights will be twice weekly (Monday and Friday) from both Manchester and London Luton airports.

“We are delighted to be able to offer this further expansion of our route network,” Kevin George, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines said “These new destinations offer a wider range of quality, service and value and I am certain they will become established favourites with our passengers.”

All the new routes are now available to book from [Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver este vínculo]

17-12-2013Monarch Airlines (ZB, London Luton) is currently reviewing submissions from Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac), Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) and Bombardier (BBA, Montréal Trudeau) for a total of sixty new aircraft for delivery up to 2024. Announcing its unaudited results for the Financial Year ended 31 October 2013, Monarch said the contract would be worth USD6billion at list prices, and expects to announce a decision in the first quarter of 2014. "With the retirement of some existing aircraft, these new additions will expand Monarch’s fleet from 39 currently to 62 and are expected to give the airline the youngest fleet in Europe by 2021. The initial financial evaluation suggests that there will be a substantial benefit to the airline from a significantly improved cost per seat," the airline said. Among the types under consideration are the A320neo and A321neo, the B737 MAX and the CS100 and CS300. As part of its existing fleet expansion programme, Monarch took delivery of nine aircraft during 2013, including two new Airbus A320-200 (sl)s and two new A321-200s, and retired two older aircraft. In 2014, a further eight aircraft will join the fleet while five will be retired.

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, July 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Monarch Airlines today announced that the two companies are finalizing terms and working towards a Purchase Agreement for 30 737 MAX 8s, marking the start of a fleet transition for Monarch to Boeing single-aisle airplanes.

The order, valued at $3.1 billion at current list prices, will be posted to the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website when finalized.

"Today's announcement is an important milestone in an exhaustive three year evaluation process, and a key part of The Monarch Group's transformation and renewal," said Iain Rawlinson, Executive Chairman, The Monarch Group. "Boeing truly understood our business and put together a complete package that fits extremely well with our ambitions for the Group. With this announcement, we begin another chapter in our long and fruitful relationship with Boeing, something which now stretches over 40 years."

"Having reviewed all of the options in the marketplace, we concluded that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the aircraft that best fits our future route network strategy, enabling us to tightly control our unit costs whilst offering a superior service to our customers," said Andrew Swaffield, Managing Director, Monarch Airlines.

"We are delighted that Monarch intends to structure its future fleet around the 737 MAX," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner. "We look forward to finalizing the order and can't wait to see the Monarch livery on 737s once again. Today is a proud moment for everyone at Boeing, as we welcome back a prestigious U.K. operator. We are confident that the 737 MAX will play a significant role in Monarch's continued success."

The 737 MAX has surpassed 2,000 orders from 42 customers worldwide, the most successful launch in Boeing history. The 737 MAX incorporates the latest-technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market.

The 737 MAX 8 provides customers with more flexibility and cost efficiency than the competition in the heart of the single-aisle market. Airlines operating the 737 MAX 8 will see an 8 percent operating cost per seat advantage over the A320neo. In addition to lower fuel use, the 737 MAX reduces the operational noise footprint by 40 percent compared to today's airplane.

Headquartered at London Luton Airport, but also operating from five other U.K. bases, Monarch predominantly serves holiday destinations around the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands as well as European ski resorts. Founded in 1968, the British carrier's passenger numbers reached nearly 7 million in 2013, a record for the airline, with a fleet made up of more than 40 airplanes

14-10-2014Luton, UK –14 October 2014 – Monarch Airlines today announces the launch of its schedule for summer 2015 from Leeds Bradford Airport with flights to 10 sun and city destinations across Europe.

The summer 2015 schedule from Leeds Bradford Airport will offer two new routes during the summer months to Alicante and Naples, in addition to eight routes continued from this summer, making a total of 28 flights per week. Flights to the increasingly popular destinations of Dalaman and Faro will see a rise in frequencies and holiday makers will enjoy more convenient flight times to Barcelona, Faro and Mahon, ideal for a weekend away. Other routes will also benefit from more sociable flight times enabling Yorkshire customers to choose a weekend break or plan a summer holiday to the Monarch destination of their choice. Monarch flights and holidays are all bookable at [Tienes que estar registrado y conectado para ver este vínculo]

Andrew Swaffield, Chief Executive of The Monarch Group said: “The airline has been undergoing a strategic review of all routes and bases over the past few months and as a result changes have been made to scheduled flights for summer 2015 across the network. We have been listening to our customers and have put a lot of thought into refining our schedule for summer 2015 from Leeds Bradford Airport. We believe that the improvements to our flying programme from our most northern base will appeal to our loyal travellers, as well as attracting new customers to Monarch to experience the warmth of service and personal touch that we are bringing back to the European airline industry.”

John Parkin, Chief Executive of Leeds Bradford Airport said: “We welcome the introduction of two new summer destinations by Monarch providing increased flight choice for travellers across the Leeds City region and Yorkshire. With improved flight timings and the excellent customer service which Monarch offers, passengers can be assured of a warm welcome next summer when they fly from their local airport – Leeds Bradford.”

In July, Monarch Airlines announced that Boeing had been chosen as the preferred bidder for its anticipated fleet renewal project. The airline is currently working towards agreeing terms which will see 30 new Boeing 737 MAX8 aircraft joining the Monarch fleet from April 2018, with options to add up to an additional 15 to the order.

We have made summer 15 that extra bit special by adding new destinations and new routes to our flying schedule.

From £34.99 you could be jetting off to the summer sunshine from Birmingham, Leeds Bradford, London Gatwick, London Luton & Manchester.

New Greek destinations on sale nowTo make summer 15 even more exciting we are introducing 3 brand new destinations to Greece; Rhodes, Preveza and Zante.

All 3 destinations have that special Grecian charm, offering beautiful beaches, centuries of history and wonderful warm sunshine.

As well as 3 new Greek destinations we have also introduced 2 brand new routes from Leeds Bradford; Alicante and Naples. Both beautiful destinations full of spectacular scenery and plenty to do for everyone. Plus even more seats to Dalaman, located on the Turquoise Coast of Turkey.

And we aren't stopping there, we have also introduced more flights to Ibiza from Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester and Larnaca from Gatwick.

MONARCH AIRLINES LAUNCHES NEW SKI ROUTE FROM LONDON GATWICK AIRPORT TO LYON

[list[*]Lyon added to Monarch’s 2014/15 ski programme from London Gatwick Airport.[/list]04 12 2014(Luton, UK – 4, December 2014) - Monarch, the leading scheduled airline to leisure destinations, today announces a new route from London Gatwick Airport to Lyon as part of its winter ski programme for 2014/15. The flights, which go on sale on Friday 5th December, will start on the 27th December 2014 and operate until 11th April. Some of the best French ski resorts are located within three hours of Lyon Airport and with the flight departing Gatwick at 0710 in the morning meaning keen skiers can be on the slopes just after lunch.